Brooke Weston

News Item

National Cup Endeavour

The team before their final match at Mansfield.

Tuesday 18th March 2008 by C. Freeman

Brooke Weston has had its best-ever results in the English Schools Football Association cup competition, getting down to the final handful of teams from a starting line up of more than 900. The Year 9 boys mounted a sustained campaign which saw them beating off competition from schools all over the Midlands, scoring an impressive 34 goals during their five-month-long bid for cup glory.

The team conceded only 22 goals during the hard fought matches for the Under 14s School Cup, meeting some noble opponents, from near (Corby Community College) and far, travelling round the Midlands for cup matches in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire.

Their most conclusive win was at their first match in September where they scored nine goals against Longfield School, Melton Mowbray and conceded only two. Other bouts have seen Brooke Weston scoring a minimum of one goal more than their opponents, but then came the day of reckoning when our team played Joseph Whitaker Sports College for a place in the quarter finals.

Sports teachers Mr Shorrock and Mr Gillespie travelled to Mansfield for the match which saw Brooke Weston unable to score and ultimately their cup dreams were defeated as they left the pitch 5-0 down.

Mr Shorrock said 'Our students were really buoyed up for the game and gave it their best shot.'

Mr Gillespie said: 'The team have put in a lot of effort over the months they have been competing in the cup competition. They have played some fantastic football, scored many goals and have represented Brooke Weston admirably. It's just a shame we weren't able to get to the quarter finals but the boys did very well to get as far as they did, especially considering that 901 teams from across the country entered the competition.'